“Of course it is!” Tina looks at me like I’ve grown another head. “Now, we didn’t know too much about you, but being a woman myself, I was able to make some educated decisions about what you might like.”
“This is far too generous.” A fresh swell of tears lines my bottom lashes, and I suck in my bottom lip to keep from having a complete breakdown.
“Nonsense!” She picks up one of the smaller gifts from the top of the pile and thrusts it into my hands.
“I brought gifts as well, but nothing like this. I can’t believe you did this for me.” I feel awestruck and like my gifts are insignificant. They’re just trinkets from the gift area at my work. Nothing special. Nothing like the mountain of gifts sitting in front of me.
“Holly, trust me, it’s not so much for you as it is for her.” Tim extends my coffee cup, laughing. “Tina has a bit of a shopping problem.”
She smacks her husband against the chest with the back of her hand. “Oh, you shush!”
Wrapping his arm around her, he pulls her close and kisses the top of her head.
From across the room, Miller watches the exchange with fascination, his eyes never leaving mine for long, despite being engaged deep in conversation with his cousin.
Lincoln’s back is to me, but by the way Miller occasionally nods his head, I assume Lincoln is trying to sell him the story of me being his holidate.
I can’t believe this is happening.
“Come, sit boys,” Tina singsongs, patting the couch next to her.
Both men look at each other one last time, seemingly communicating without words, then they cross the room. Miller takes the spot where Tina’s hand just was, and Lincoln comes to sit by me.
“Alright,” she continues. “Just like when you were little! Have at it.”
Lincoln leans over and whispers, “That essentially means it’s a free-for-all. Go ahead and open your presents.” My breath catches in my throat when he presses a kiss to the side of my head before straightening and taking a gift from his pile.
From my peripheral, Miller stiffens.
Looking up at Lincoln, I nod, trying to push the lump from my throat. My heart’s hammering in my chest—so scared that Miller is going to out me at any second, and Lincoln and I will have to do some serious damage control.
Although part of me already suspects that Tina knows this relationship is fabricated.
There’s another weight sitting on my chest—the one that doesn’t want to hurt Miller.
Which iscrazy. I don’t even know him! But I want to. A flicker of something ignited in me last night, and I have a never-ending freefall of questions zinging through my mind, along with an undeniable attraction to him.
Ten minutes later, all the presents are open. Scattered around the floor and furniture is the discarded wrapping paper and bows, and a heaping pile of goodies sitting in front of each of us.
“I’m sorry I didn’t know you would be here,Holly, or I would have brought you something.” Miller leans back against the couch, extending his denim covered legs wide in a relaxed position. Lifting his arms, he clasps his hands behind his head and tries not to smile.
“I wasn’t supposed to stay. But my ankle would have made it very difficult to drive back to the city.”
“You live in San Diego?”
I nod. “On the outskirts.”
He says nothing, but I can practically see the cogs of his mind working as he watches me like a predator watches their prey.
“Nice to see you were able to spend the night.” Miller turns to Lincoln. “It’s been a while since you’ve been up here.”
“The hospital’s been demanding, but I was just here for Thanksgiving. Or have you forgotten already?”
“Haven’t forgotten. How could I?”
My head volleys, following them as they converse. It’s clear there’s some sort of tension between them, and I’m very curious what it is.
Is it me? Am I the problem causing strife between them?
